The CJ’s Cup is an annual collaborative fundraising project between the Singapore Academy of Law and the Yellow Ribbon Fund.

Singapore, 27 July 2019 — Fancy footwork, cheering crowds and jaw-dropping penalty kick-outs—these were all in good supply at the fourth edition of the Chief Justice (CJ)’s Cup, which wrapped up earlier today. Organised by the Singapore Academy of Law (SAL), the CJ’s Cup is an annual fundraising effort that supports the Yellow Ribbon Fund (YRF) – STAR (Skills Training Assistance to Restart) Bursary. This year, S$109,900 was raised for the Bursary, which supports the education of disadvantaged and vulnerable ex-offenders. This is the highest sum ever raised during the CJ’s Cup.

Some of these ex-offenders took to the pitch today, joining members of the legal community, among them lawyers, Legal Service Officers and law students. Notably, this year’s tournament kicked off with a nail-biting match between The Law Society of Singapore (LawSoc)’s female team and an all-star SAL team helmed by Senior Minister of State for Law and Health, Mr Edwin Tong. The latter won the match, scoring 4 – 0.

This match was followed by over two hours of play among 17 teams at Kovan Sports Centre, during which the team from Jamiyah Halfway House won the coveted cup against runners-up from TSMP Law Corporation.

“Events like this go a long way in encouraging ex-offenders to rebuild their lives,” said Senior Judge Lai Siu Chiu, a member of the Yellow Ribbon Fund’s main committee. “It demonstrates the faith that the community has in them. We hope that this will drive ex-offenders to prove their worth and once again contribute to Singapore.”

“Year after year, the CJ’s Cup gets the legal community involved in the education and rehabilitation of ex-offenders,” said Mr Thio Shen Yi SC, Chairman of SAL’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Sub-Committee. “The response from the legal community is always overwhelming and it displays our commitment to giving ex-offenders a second shot at life.”

“It is an honour and privilege to be invited to participate in this event,” said Ms Ho Wan Yi, the captain of the Law Society's female football team. “Our team members are always looking for opportunities to meaningfully engage the community in our personal and professional lives, and we hope that events like this can inspire more lawyers to support rehabilitation initiatives for ex-offenders.”

The YRF-SAL STAR Bursary, started in 2014, has to date benefited 27 ex-offenders who received financial help through the bursary. In all, the bursary has disbursed close to $270,000. There are five students currently being supported by the bursary. Courses undertaken by YRF-SAL STAR bursary recipients have ranged from diplomas to undergraduate degrees, in subjects including Business Studies, Mathematical Sciences, Sociology and Chemical Engineering.